Laois gardaí assist Iarnród Éireann staff on patrol amid rise in violent incidents

An Garda Síochána Laois/Offaly have begun active patrols with staff on Iarnród Éireann services in a bid to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

The patrols come following an increase in violent incidents on public transport across the county. 

A Kildare woman appeared in court last week for being intoxicated, engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour and obstructing gardaí at Portlaoise Train Station on August 7, 2024.

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The same woman admitted being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at the same train station and assaulting a garda at Portlaoise Garda Station on December 6, 2024. 

Sexual harassment, theft, assault, verbal abuse, organised begging and open drug use were all reported by rail users in Laois in the past 18 months leading up to August 2024. 

The incidents were all documented in a Freedom of Information response from Irish Rail/Iarnrod Eireann to the Leinster Express/Laois Live in a previous article published on August 28, 2024.

The request sought details of complaints relating to behaviour in or around Portlaoise, Portarlington and Ballybrophy Train Stations in the past 18 months leading up to that time.

Although the names of the individuals who made the complaints are redacted and the complaints are not dated, they contain specific details of incidents endured by rail customers in Laois.

There are details of people smoking heroin, throwing objects, sitting with a blade and a box of drugs and using nitrous oxide on the service. Verbal abuse, vaping and anti-social behaviour are all recorded, as is an incident where a person was spat on while waiting for a train.